Automatic food warmer

ABSTRACT

A machine for reconstituting and heating dry frozen foods to serving temperatures including a housing having an oscillatable frozen food container support mounted thereon. An electric motor driven mechanism in the housing oscillates the container support. A burner oscillates with the container support. A water reservoir and a water dispensing apparatus are located in the housing and arranged to supply a measured quantity of water to the frozen food container. Timers provide two heating cycles of different time durations.

United States Pat ent '[19'1' Norin 1 Oct. 9, 1973 AUTOMATIC FOOD WARMER3,384,002 5/1968 Bonuchi 99/234 1" Inventor: Allan A. Norm g I".3,501,620 3/1970 Sauer 99/234 T Assignw 'f Dorsey Montgomery, PrimaryExaminer-Robert W. Jenkins Chlcago/ Attorney-James P. Hume [22] Filed: vNov. 3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 86,515 ABSTRACT A machine forreconstituting and heating dry frozen 52 us. Cl. 99/483, 259/75 foods toserving temperatures including a housing [51] Int. Cl A23i 1/00 ing anoscillatable frozen food container Support [58] Field of Search 99/234,234 T, 348, mounted thereon An electric motor driven mecha- 99 32 325326 331, 332, 327, nism in the housing oscillates the container support.A 12 /34 21; 34 1 219/400; 5 18 burner oscillates with the containersupport. A water 75 reservoir and a water dispensing apparatus arelocated in the housing and arranged to supply a measured 5 ReferencesCited quantity of water to the frozen food container. Timers UNITEDSTATES PATENTS provide two heating cycles of different time durations.

3,071,473 1] 1963 Churley 99/234 T 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures =1 B- 13If PATENTED [JET 91975 SHEET 10F 3 AUTOMATIC FOOD WARMER SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention is directed to a machine for automaticallyreconstituting dry frozen foods and heating the reconstituted food toits serving temperature. It is particularly directed to a machine whichmay be used in restaurants and other food serving'activities toautomatically reconstitute and heat individual as well as largerportions of food.

An object of this invention is a machine that automaticallyreconstitutes and heats frozen food quickly from the frozen statewithout scorching the food.

Another object is a machine which automatically adds a predeterminedquantity of water to a dry frozen food to reconstitute the food.

Another object is a machine that automatically agitates a frozen foodduring heating to aid in the reconstitution of the food and to preventscorching.

Another object is a machine for reconstituting a dry frozen food andheating the food to a serving temperature which is self-contained andsimple to operate.

Another object is a machine for reconstituting and heating a dry frozenfood which has at least two separate heating cycles of different timedurations.

Other objects will be found in the following specification, claims anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the novel featuresofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of this machine;I

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the machine;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the burner androcking mechanism of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an individualcrimped aluminum container 11 containing frozen food 13 carried on asupport 15 of the machine 17 of this invention. In FIG. 3, across-section of the machine 17 is shown including a housing 19 in whichis located a water reservoir 21. The reservoir is supplied with waterthrough a conduit 23 which is controlled by a float valve 25 located inthe reservoir. A discharge conduit 27 from the reservoir extends throughthe front face 29 of the housing 19 to discharge above the frozen foodsupport 15. The flow of water through this conduit is controlled by asolenoid operated valve 31. The reservoir 21 is supported on the toppanel 33 of the housing by means of brackets 35. The reservoir may beremoved for cleaning by sliding it out from the brackets.

The frozen food container support 15 includes a shield 45 of rectangularcross-section attached to angle legs 47 and a straight leg 48. Pegs 49connected to the bases of the angle legs 47 fit through openings (notshown) in a bracket plate 51. The straight leg 48 rests on thebracketplate. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 5, the bracket plate 51is bolted to a bracket 53. The bracket 53 in turn is bolted to a cover55. The cover 55 has a centrally located collar portion 57 which isfastened to a tube 59.

The bracket support tube 59 is journalled inside a bearing support tube61. The bearing support tube is attached to and supported on an interiorpartition 63 of the housing 19 by means of a plate 65 formed as part ofthe bearing tube and attached by bolts to the'partition 63. The bracketsupport tube 59 is journalled in bearings 67 positioned at opposite endsof the tube 61.

The bracket support tube 59 extends beyond the end of the bearingsupport tube 61 shown at the right in FIG. 5. A crank arm 71 is fastenedto this end of the tube 59 through means of an integral looped portion73 of the crank arm which fits over the tube 59 and is fastened thereto.The opposite end of the crank arm 71 is pivotally connected to one endof a link 75. The opposite end of the link 75 is pivotally connected toa crank 77 which is affixed to the output shaft 79 of a reduction gearbox 81 of an electric motor 83.

A gas supply tube 91 extends through the bracket support tube 59 intothe burner shield 45 where its end is closed by a plug 93. Outletopenings 95 are formed in the tube near the plugged end. The oppositeend of the tube extends through, is supported by and is fastened to anupright 97. The upright 97 is supported on a bolt 99 which is fastenedto the partition 63. The gas supply tube 91 is connected by conduit 101to a solenoid operated control valve 103. A pilot burner. 105 is mountedon the face panel 29 of the housing and is supplied by a conduit 107which connects to the gas conduit 101 ahead of the solenoid controlvalve 103.

The partition 63 forms one wall of an air chamber 111. In addition tothe partition 63, the chamber has side walls 113 and 115 and a top wall117. As shown most clearly in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the side and topwalls are formed of a single piece of metal bent into an invertedU-shaped member. The bottom panel 119 of the housing 19 forms the baseof the chamber and the front panel 29 of the housing functions as thefront wall of the chamber. An electric motor driven blower dischargesinto the air chamber 111 through an opening (not shown) in the side wall113.

A wear plate 131 is fastened to the housing front panel 29 and has anopening 133 through which the tubes 59 and 61 extend. Openings 135 inthe front panel 29 lead from the air chamber 111 into the cover 55 whichis affixed to the bracket support tube 59. A series of openings 137 areformed in the end of cover 55 radially outwardly of the collar portion57 thereof. A damper plate 139 is fastened to the outside end of thecover 55 and is equipped with a series of openings 141. The arrangementand size of openings 137 and 141 respectively in the cover 55 and damperplate 139 are identical so that the openings may be aligned. An arcuateslot 143 is formed in the damper plate and a threaded screw 145 extendsthrough this slot and into a threaded opening in the cover plate 55 topermit rotational adjustment of the openings 141 of the damper platerelative to the openings 137 in the cover. Adjustment of the openings inthe cover relative to the openings in the damper plate varies theeffective size of the air flow passages through these parts.

The burner 151, which is mounted in the frozen food container support15, includes an L-shaped tube 153 to which an enlarged cylindrical endportion 155 is fastened. The tube 153 is supported n-and attached to thebracket plate 51 by means of a support 156. The end portion 155 enclosesthe outlet openings 137 and 141 of the cover 55 and damper plate 139.One leg of the L-shaped burner tube 153 receives and surrounds the gassupply tube 91 and connects with the enlarged cylindrical portion 155.The cylindrical portion 155 can he slid along the tube 153 to provideaccess to the damper plate adjusting screw 145. A perforated baffleplate 159 is mounted above the outlet opening 161 of the burner. Thebaffle 159 is positioned just below the frozen food container supportpins 163 which are attached on the shield 45 and extend inwardlythereof. An opening 165 is formed in the wall of the shield for thepilot light 105.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an on off switch 171 controls a l or 220volt A.C. circuit 173 into the machine. Push buttons 175 and 177 areprovided respectively to control the timer motors 179 and 181. Timermotor 179 provides approximately a three minute cycle while timer motor181 provides a six minute cycle. Timer switches 183 and 185 of timermotor 179 connect respectively to gas solenoid control valve 103 andwater solenoid control valve 31. Timer switches 187 and 189 of timermotor 181 connect respectively to gas solenoid control valve 103 andwater solenoid control 31. These switches are also connected to theelectric motors 83 and 125 which operate the bracket support tube 59 andthe blower. 'A light 191 is provided in the circuit to indicate themachine is in operation.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

The operator of the machine obtains a container 11 containing a dryfrozen food 13 from a freezer, removes the cover (not shown) and placesthe container on the support pins 163 of the support 15. While themachine of this invention is adaptable for use in reconstituting frozenfoods of almost all types, it is particularly well suitable forreconstituting and heating foods that have been cooked and frozenwithout excess water and to which has been added an adjuvent of dryseasoning and thickener sufficient to make a sauce or gravy when wateris added.

The switch 171 is then turned to its on position. The operator thenactuates either push button 175 or 177 depending on whether a threeminute or six minute cycle is needed to properly prepare the food.Assuming the shorter cycle is used, actuation of the button 175 startsthe timer motor 179. The timer switch 183 opens the solenoid valve 103controlling the gas. This allows gas to move through the conduit 101 andinto the gas supply tube 91. The gas leaves this tube through theopenings 95 and enters the burner 151. The timer motor switch 183 alsoactuates the blower motor 125 which forces air into the air chamber 111,through the openings 135 in the front panel 29 of the housing, throughthe openings 133 in the wear plate 131 and into the cover 55. From thecover 55, the air under pressure passes through the openings 137 and 141in the cover 55 and damper plate 139. Then, the air enters the enlargedcylindrical portion of the burner and moves into the L-shaped burnertube 153 where it mixes with the gas from the gas tube 91 and passes outthe opening 161 where it is ignited by the flame from the pilot 105.

Also activated by the timer switch 183 is the motor 83 which, throughits reduction gear 81 and output shaft 79, rotates the crank 77. Therotation of the crank brings about oscillation of the bracket supporttube 59. The cover 55 oscillates with the tube 59 and thereby rocks oroscillates the bracket 53 and bracket plate 51. The shield 45,containersupport pins 163 and burner 151 rock with the support bracket 53.

As the frozen food container 11 is being heated and rocked, the timerswitch 185 is actuated, opening the solenoid water control valve 31 toadmit water from the reservoir 21 through the discharge spout 27 andinto the container 11. The amount of water delivered through the valve31 is controlled by the length of time the valve is opened since thestatic head at the discharge outlet is maintained practically constantby the float valve 25. The amount of water delivered through thedischarge spout 27 may be varied in accordance with the type of frozenfood being heated as well as the quantity thereof. It has been foundwith some types of specially prepared frozen foods that the addition offour ounces of water to each eight ounce portion provides a propermixture. The rocking of the frozen food and water during the applicationof heat assists the reconstitution of the food much in the manner thatstirring assists in preparing a sauce.

Upon completion of the heating cycle, the timing motor 179 will turn offthereby closing the gas valve 103 and stopping the motors 83 and for theoscillating' mechanism and the air blower motor respectively. The food13 in the container 11 will then be at its desired serving temperatureand consistency and the tray 11 may be removed from the machine.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that there are many modifications,substitutions and alterations which may be made without departing fromthe fundamental theme of this invention. Therefore, the scope of theinvention should be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for quickly reconstituting dry frozen foods from a frozenstate to a temperature and condition in which the food is ready to beeaten including:

a housing,

a frozen food container support mounted outside of said housing forrocking motion about a horizontal axis,

a burner associated with said frozen food container support,

means associated with said housing for adding a measured amount of waterto a frozen food container located on said frozen food containersupport,

means for rocking said frozen food container support about saidhorizontal axis, and

means for operating said burner for a preselected period of time duringrocking to heat said frozen food container and its contents.

2. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said burner ismounted to rock with said frozen food container support.

3. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said means foradding a measured amount of water to a frozen food container includes awater reservoir mounted in said housing, a float valve for maintaining aconstant water level in said reservoir, a discharge conduit leading fromsaid reservoir and discharging over said frozen food container support,a control valve for said water discharge conduit, and a timer foropening said control valve for a predetermined period of time.

4. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said means forrocking said frozen food container support about said horizontal axisincludes a horizontally extending tube journalled in said housing, meansconnecting said frozen food container support to said tube and means foroscillating said tube about its longitudinal axis.

5. The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that means foroscillating said tube includes an arm having one end rigidly connectedto said tube, an electric motor having a reduction gear and an outputshaft connected to said reduction gear, a crank fastened to said outputshaft, a link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said crank andpivotally connected at the opposite end thereof to the free end of saidarm.

6. The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that said meansconnecting said frozen food container support to said tube includes acover connected to the end of said tube, a bracket connected to saidcover with said frozen food container support and said burner mounted onsaid bracket.

7. The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that said burner issupplied with gas by a conduit which extends through said oscillatingtube and air is supplied through openings in said cover from an airchamber in said housing.

8. The machine of claim 7 further characterized in that said burner isequipped with an enlarged base which encloses said openings in saidcover and adjustable baffle means are provided to control the flow ofair into said base.

9. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said means foroperating said burner for a preselected period of time during rockingincludes a conduit supplying gas to said burner, a solenoid operatedvalve controlling the flow of gas through said conduit and a timer motorcontrolling the operation of said solenoid. II! IF

1. A machine for quickly reconstituting dry frozen foods from a frozenstate to a temperature and condition in which the food is ready to beeaten including: a housing, a frozen food container support mountedoutside of said housing for rocking motion about a horizontal axis, aburner associated with said frozen food container support, meansassociated with said housing for adding a measured amount of water to afrozen food container located on said frozen food container support,means for rocking said frozen food container support about saidhorizontal axis, and means for operating said burner for a preselectedperiod of time during rocking to heat said frozen food container and itscontents.
 2. The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that saidburner is mounted to rock with said frozen food container support. 3.The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said means foradding a measured amount of water to a frozen food container includes awater reservoir mounted in said housing, a float valve for maintaining aconstant water level in said reservoir, a discharge conduit leading fromsaid reservoir and discharging over said frozen food container support,a control valve for said water discharge conduit, and a timer foropening said control valve for a predetermined period of time.
 4. Themachine of claim 1 further characterized in that said means for rockingsaid frozen food container support about said horizontal axis includes ahorizontally extending tube journalled in said housing, means connectingsaid frozen food container support to said tube and means foroscillating said tube about its longitudinal axis.
 5. The machine ofclaim 4 further characterized in that means for oscillating said tubeincludes an arm having one end rigidly connected to said tube, anelectric motor having a reduction gear and an output shaft connected tosaid reduction gear, a crank fastened to said output shaft, a linkpivotally connected at one end thereof to said crank and pivotallyconnected at the opposite end thereof to the free end of said arm. 6.The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that said meansconnecting said frozen food container support to said tube includes acover connected to the end of said tube, a bracket connected to saidcover with said frozen food container support and said burner mounted onsaid bracket.
 7. The machine of claim 4 further characterized in thatsaid burner is supplied with gas by a conduit which extends through saidoscillating tube and air is supplied through openings in said cover froman air chamber in said housing.
 8. The machine of claim 7 furthercharacterized in that said burner is equipped with an enlarged basewhich encloses said openings in said cover and adjustable baffle meansare provided to control the flow of air into said base.
 9. The machineof claim 1 further characterized in that said means for operating saidburner for a preselected period of time during rocking includes aconduit supplying gas to said burner, a solenoid operated valvecontrolling the flow of gas through said conduit and a timer motorcontrolling the operation of said solenoid.